23 thoughts on “Succeeding with Three Challenges that Derail Leaders”

Great post. I would add “Pay attention to your health and well-being.” That’s an important part of filling your own well. It’s much harder to develop yourself as a good leader if you are regularly overtired, stressed out, and in poor physical condition.

#2 resonated for me the most. We always think of leaders as people who are open and responsive to opportunities. But I agree that opportunities can be distracting, a symptom of FOMO (fear of missing out). It’s important to keep your eye on the target: your priorities!

Great stuff here. Priorities over opportunities. Leaders must remember that what say no is guarding what we have said yes about. My pastor says ‘Keep the main thing the main thing’ all the time. I repeat that to myself when opportunities come up. Is this the main thing or just another thing. Our values should drive our priorities and keep us on track.

Thanks CK. You nailed it. “Priorities over opportunities.” I love a well turned expression. Lee Iaccoca was famous for saying, “Keep the main thing the main thing.” It powerful. Thanks for sharing your insights

So we have this strange dichotomy, we become more and more comfortable with who we are, yet we must challenge who we are to grow!
We quickly say “I haven’t arrived” but sometimes our behaviors indicate we’ve settled in…

“Be yourself” is a great strength, but remember “yourself” is dynamic, changing, growing, developing..

“Define yourself” reminds me of Edwin Friedman’s differentiated leader – one who stands outside his organization’s anxiety, refusing to carry it for them, while remaining connected so that he can provide direction.

But a well-differentiated leader is one works at all three of these challenges, plus one more: refuse to give in to fear. When the team or organization you lead is experiencing anxiety they will make unhealthy demands on you (the quick fix, closing ranks, etc.). Fear of loss causes many leaders to fail.

Thanks for these three “handy” handles on what a well defined leader does to maintain those leadership qualities.

Thanks Bud. You’re really nailing what Jim Parker was talking about. Leaders feel pulled in many directions. He was forced to navigate the loss of people and assets during 9/11. When a person like that says, “Be Yourself,” it means something.

Thanks also for extending the conversation with ideas about the differentiated leader. I’ve seen leaders swing from over-connected to dis-connected. … Stand outside anxiety but stay connected. So helpful

Great advice as usual, Dan. The “Be Yourself” recommendation is absolutely essential: both in terms of regular self-assessment to know what’s going well and what needs refinement as well as monitoring the input / output balance.

When I read Challenge #2, I was reminded of the late Stephen Covey’s Time Management Matrix: Efforts are either urgent or non-urgent, either important or not important. There will always be important, urgent efforts that will pop up and need addressing. The key he suggests is doing important tasks when they are not urgent. Too many managers want you believe their assignments are urgent and important ‘because they decided it was so’. Sadly, we often gravitate to the non-urgent, unimportant tasks because they tend to be the ‘easiest’ since there’s minimal pressure.

Your addition or monitoring what’s going well and what needs refinement, as well as, input/output is so useful. It’s one thing to use the term self-reflection. It’s another thing to focus our reflection on something specific.

By the way, your use of language is important. I respect how you include the word refinement.

Covey and the Franklin Day Planner folks came to mind as I wrote this. I’m glad you brought this up.

I am amazed at your point number 2 and the concept of a pitfall of opportunity. For those who know a good deal when they see it, that could be dangerous indeed. Someone said ‘there’s more where that came from’. Your insight really helped me today so I can amend that to ‘there’s more where that came from, so keep your priorities in mind’. Now I have to get back, not to my email or replies to a million questions, but to another more important task I have set aside for when I have time. Thank you

I enjoyed this post especially challenge #3. I’m currently in the process of trying to improve my leadership skills particularly in the realm of servant leadership. Something I’ve found is that while serving others is fulfilling there must be a balance of also serving my own personal needs.

Thanks Chris. Your comment reminded that when we pour out in ways that align with our talent and values we are pouring into ourselves. We receive energy. There is, of course, a limitation to the energy cycle.

This is so good…Life and Leadership is so much about growth, learning, and utilizing the tools and knowledge we gain along the way. I burned out and crashed about 2 years ago after building several different businesses over 15 years. I now highly value information like you are sharing in this blog. Thank you!

Thanks Jeff. It may be uncomfortable, but some of our greatest lessons are learned as a result of dark days. The other thing I find exciting is how dark days increase our value to others, as long as we are reasonably open with it.

Does it seem like I’m frivolous about dark days? I’m not. But, if we respond well, they make us better.